Cyclone Idai has caused enormous damage in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe. Hundreds of people have died, about 400,000 people lost their homes and an estimated 2.9 million people have been affected by the disaster.

There has also been massive damage to infrastructure in the three countries and acres of farmland have been submerged. The scope of the damage has exposed the continent’s vulnerability to natural disasters.

The aftermath of the disaster points to weaknesses in the way that the African Union (AU) responded. It should have taken the lead, but it did not. Instead, the first responders were drawn from the international community and global non-governmental organisations.

The AU has now pledged US$350,000 to relief efforts. However, this has been dwarfed by pledges from the international community such as US$20 million from the United Nations, £18 million from the UK, US$4.9 million from the United Arab Emirates and €3.5 million from the European Union.

This raises pertinent questions about the role of the AU in times of natural disasters. This is not the first time that the AU has been slow to react to a disaster in one of its member states. During the Ebola crisis in 2014 the AU responded lethargically and was accused of looking to the outside world to manage its emergencies.

Despite these failings, the AU has taken steps to strengthen the mechanisms that support members states when they are hit by large scale natural catastrophes. However, for its strategies to have the desired effect, the AU would need to be proactive in making the mechanisms functional. In addition member states would also need to fulfil their side of the bargain, by taking steps to implement what needs to be done before disaster strikes.

Disaster response

Responding to disasters is part of the responsibility of the AU’s executive council. The executive council is the decision making organ of the AU and consists of the ministers of foreign affairs from all member states.

The union’s Security Council, which is the AU’s standing body for the prevention, management and resolution of conflict, is also tasked to facilitate humanitarian action in cases of major natural disasters.

The AU also has a regional strategy for disaster reduction. The strategy combines its internal disaster reduction mechanisms with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction which was brokered by the UN.

Special agency

In addition, the AU created a special agency called the African Risk Capacity to institute a more effective response system and allow for comprehensive disaster management.

The agency also provides an insurance service to cushion member states and their citizens from the effects of natural disasters. It is funded by member states and international partners and also from premiums paid by participating member states.

To qualify for this insurance, states sign a memorandum of understanding that requires them to put in place rapid response mechanisms to respond to natural disasters. Out of the 34 member states that have signed up to the African Risk Capacity only 20 member states have signed the memorandum.

Most of the signatories to the African Risk Capacity treaty are vulnerable to disasters. This includes the three countries affected by Cyclone Idai. But neither Mozambique, Zimbabwe nor Malawi have viable rapid response mechanisms in place, nor have they taken up the treaty’s insurance option. This is because African Risk Capacity does not cover cyclone disasters yet.

African Risk Capacity may not have been tested in a cyclone scenario but it has been active in the management and response to drought. Countries like Senegal, Mauritania, Niger and Malawi have benefited from drought support funds totalling US$36.8 million.

The largest payment – US$16.5 million – was made to Senegal in 2015 after the country suffered severe famine and drought. The Senegalese government used the money to provide relief food to 927,416 people and to feed 600,000 cattle. The most recent payment – US$2.4 million – was made to Mauritania in 2018 when it was ravaged by drought. Africa Risk Capacity was the the first to respond with funds.

The ability to deliver quick and effective relief in dire circumstances shows that Africa Risk Capacity has the potential to play a significant role in the future.

Thinking ahead

The AU must encourage all member states to sign up to the Africa Risk Capacity framework. It must also encourage members states to put in place rapid response mechanisms. This would require them to enter into the memorandum of understanding. While 20 countries have already signed on to the memorandum to cover them in times of famine and drought it needs to be urgently extended to cyclone disasters.

In addition, the AU will need to encourage member states to take up the cyclone insurance option as soon it is fully developed. African Risk Capacity is working to make it available as soon as possible.

The AU can also incentivise member states to purchase insurance cover by providing generous additional funding to states that have policies in place.

Finally, the AU could also institute a collaborative mutual aid fund from which member states can request disaster assistance. This would be similar to the European Union’s Civil Defence Mechanism which is based on voluntary contributions by participating member states. The European Union parliament is currently updating the mechanism to include reserve resources to provide additional funding in times of dire need. This is a provision that the AU could also consider. – The Conversation Africa

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The Southern Times is headquartered in Windhoek, Namibia, and has offices in Harare, Zimbabwe. It has correspondents stationed in most of the 16-member SADC countries – from Angola to Zimbabwe - who contribute articles.